LHC Overturns Tribunal Decision, Khaqan Abbasi Can Contest from NA-57

LAHORE: LHC has overturned the tribunal’s decision of disqualifying former premier Khaqan Abbasi to contest from NA-57.

An Appellate tribunal had disqualified ex-PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to contest polls from NA-57, Murree. The PML-N leader’s papers were accepted by the returning officer during scrutiny. However; the acceptance was pleaded against in the election tribunal.

The tribunal disqualified him for life, however; the former premier appealed against the tribunal’s decision in LHC.

A three-member bench of Lahore High Court headed by Justice Mazahir Ali Naqvi accepted Abbasi’s appeal. The bench earlier today made the tribunal’s verdict void and allowed him to contest from the constituency.

The Appellate tribunal had disqualified Abbasi on the basis of concealing facts in his nomination papers. The appeal filed against him in the tribunal was that Abbasi had misstated his assets in the affidavit. He was also alleged of using the national exchequer for personal purposes.

He was also accused of supporting Nawaz Sharif’s controversial Mumbai Attack statements. The petitioner stated by supporting those statements he had damaged the national security of the country.

The Appellate court observing that Abbasi had concealed his assets declared him disqualified for life under Article 62 (1)(f).